Fed-up residents close Rosedale Clinic

The frustrated people of Rosedale in Uitenhage closed their clinic this morning (subs: Monday, 27 February) because they had simply had enough.

It is completely unacceptable for patients to have to resort to such a drastic measure because the provincial Department of Health has allowed this vital facility to go without a permanent doctor and to suffer staff and medicine shortages. Emails from the clinic committee submitted to the MEC three weeks ago, are yet to be answered.

The DA understands the anguish of suffering patients who visit a clinic and leave empty handed. We sympathise with all patients who have not been able to collect their medicine and with those who had had to wait in intolerably long queues.

I have submitted the following legislature questions to MEC for Health, Dr Phumza Dyantyi, for oral reply in the House on Wednesday, 15 March:

Please provide the current (2017) organogram for the Rosedale Clinic in Uitenhage;

How many vacancies (include staff on study-, sick- and maternity leave) were there at the Rosedale Clinic on 27 02 17;

How long has each vacant position been unoccupied;

How many vacant positions will be filled during the current financial year;

Provide a comprehensive dated list of all vacancies at the Rosedale Clinic with interview schedules and timelines for the appointment of staff to fill every single vacancy at the Rosedale Clinic; and

When exactly will the MEC of Health reply to the letter sent to her by the Rosedale Clinic Committee?

Our people deserve the same level of care and service delivered to all patients in the DA-led Western Cape. Failure to do so amounts to a violation of the constitution. — Celeste Barker MPL, Shadow MEC for Health